Chelsea at centre of racism and bullying scandal as three former players accuse ex-coaches Graham Rix and Gwyn Williams of horrendous abuse - including throwing a cup of hot coffee in one of their faces

Graham Rix and Gwyn Williams enjoyed long coaching careers at Chelsea

Former young players at the club have accused them of racist abuse and bullying

The Guardian report youths were reportedly called names such as 'black b******'

Rix, then a youth team coach, is accused of throwing hot coffee in a player's face

Rix and Williams have denied 'all and any allegations of racial or other abuse'

Share this article

Share

1.4k shares

Rix and Williams, who for more than two decades was a key figure at Stamford Bridge, denied the claims when they were investigated by the police. The case was dropped after seven months because of insufficient evidence.

The allegations surfaced 18 months ago with a complaint initially made to Chelsea. The players reportedly launched a civil claim against Chelsea in February, with the club notifying the FA and the police. So far the matter does not appear to have led to disciplinary action from the FA.

Lawyers for Rix and Williams denied the claims on Friday night but a statement from Chelsea said: 'We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously. We are absolutely determined to do the right thing, to fully support those affected, assist the authorities and support their investigations.'

Williams and Rix worked under the likes of Ruud Gullit at Stamford Bridge. None of the managers are accused of any wrongdoing

Williams (pictured circa 1990) was a prominent figure at Chelsea for more than 25 years

GRAHAM RIX: 'NO ONE WILL GIVE ME A JOB'

In an interview with the Independent in 2013, Graham Rix complained that he could no longer find a job in football.

'It's tough being out of work but money's not everything,' he said.

'I'm still on the lookout, I want something to happen and I've applied for so many jobs, so many jobs... Sometimes, but not always, you get a letter or email back saying thanks but no thanks.

'I'm not bothered about being Mr Big Shot, I just want to pass on what I've got in my head, whether it's at an academy, reserve team, U21s, anything. Without blowing my own trumpet, that's where my forte lies.'

On his prison stint, he said: 'I made a mistake, admitted it and accepted it. I was in prison and I've done everything I had to with the (sex offenders) register and all of that. I don't want to sound self-pitying, as though people owe me a favour, but when I'm not working for long periods it does get me down.

'I just want to get on with my life, and when I've been in football for so long, what else am I going to do?'

Rix and Williams were prominent figures at the club prior to the arrival of Roman Abramovich as owner. The claims include that a 'feral environment' existed for black players in their youth team, with one allegation that they were treated 'like a race of dogs'.

According to legal letters, players were subjected to sickening insults such as 'n*g**g', 'midnight' and 'jigaboo', with the words said to have come from both men named in the civil cases.

After a youth-team fixture in Spain, Rix reportedly humiliated a player in the showers using a racial stereotype, stating that 'if his heart was as big as his c***, he would be a great player that ran more'. There was also said to be a reference to 'chucking spears'.

The same player is said to have claimed that Williams once told him to 'f*** off back to Africa' and 'sell drugs or rob old grannies'. And it is claimed Williams told him to 'go and clean my office, Richard Pryor — shine my shoes' and to 'pick up your lip, it's dragging on the floor'.

And in a statement, the player adds: 'I was a minor, I'd never heard those words being said. Let me tell you something, that is the most demoralising feeling you could ever have. I didn't know how to handle it and it was constant … the racial slurs of 'c**n' ... 'm onke y ' …'man gomuncher', 'n*****'.'

At one stage Williams was assistant manager to Claudio Ranieri. He left the club to join former chairman Ken Bates at Leeds United.

Williams was sacked as technical director by Leeds in July 2013 for emailing pornographic images of women to a female receptionist at the club. In 2015 he sought compensation of £250,000 in the High Court but a judge ruled he was rightly sacked.

In March 1999, Rix admitted two charges of unlawful sex with a 15-year-old girl and indecent assault and was sentenced to 12 months in prison. He was also placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and yet was reinstated by Chelsea immediately after his release. He was appointed first-team coach.

One player is alleged to have been called names such as 'darkie', 'n*gn*g', and 'black b******'

According to one former player Williams 'is a walking piece of dirt, but he had power'

Most recently he was the manager of AFC Portchester, whom he left last August.

In a statement on behalf of Rix and Williams, lawyer Eddie Johns said: 'Our clients deny all and any allegations of racial or other abuse.

'These allegations were the subject of a thorough investigation by specialist officers of the Metropolitan Police Service [who] did not consider there was sufficient evidence even to report it to the Crown Prosecution Service. Our clients co-operated with that investigation.

'The allegations are contained in correspondence sent to Chelsea. That correspondence has not been seen by our clients or us.

'No correspondence has been sent to our clients or us by these individuals or those representing them. We will, of course, deal with any allegations if made directly to our clients. Our clients are co-operating fully with the FA.'

In 1999, Rix served six months in jail after admitting having unlawful sex with a 15-year-old girl

Rix had a short spell as caretaker manager at Chelsea after the departure of Gianluca Vialli